consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the
words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the
flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in
the white band--it features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: In recent years inflation has fallen to
unprecedented levels, and exports have grown substantially. Even so,
El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and
its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by
remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and
from external aid. El Salvador sustained damage from Hurricane
Mitch, but not as much as other Central American countries.
Inflation and the trade deficit are expected to rise somewhat as a
result.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 48.3% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998)

Labor force: 2.26 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%,
manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%,
transportation 6%, other 1%

Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.75 billion
expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1997 est.)

Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 3.575 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fue